Note: There are few things actually implemented in some way in the official IDE, like the installation because this mod originally comes from Aug 2012.

1. Standard windows installCouple of clicks and ready!

2. Driver installerPrepares your system for the boards. Tested in Windows 8.

3. AVRDude wrapper/fixerWhen uploading a sketch, if port does not respond the IDE will try to fix the issues instead of showing you the "port already in use message", no reboot, no physical unplug/replug, finding the app using the port.

4. Menu with Scroll support and better organizationLots of Sketches? lots of Libraries? lots of Examples?, No problems at all.

7. Sketch template Start coding right away, the first sketch is compilable without pressing a key! The IDE finds a sweet spot to place the cursor for you. Also notice the fancy new font:

8. More and custom settingsDoes not mess with other Arduino IDE versions and preferences (not even with official 1.0.1). You can go to Preferences and set another Sketch directory to keep your User librararies and sketches appart.

10. New library managerManage your libraries from Documents/Arduino/Libraries folder with ease and the IDE will reflect the changes without restart * Enable or disable them: Click the checkbox (disabled libraries will not appear in the IDE or their EXAMPLES)* Delete library: Select library and press DEL* Add library: Click ADD, then select the a proper file of the library or select a ZIP file (manager will handle everything for you)

11. More IDE enhancements!* Undo/redo: Now remember the cursor position, almost unlimited buffer for undo* Easy mouse selection: Now the selection with the mouse is slowed down to keep it controlable when selecting lots of lines* Smart Reference!: Detect the selected word automatically, now you don't need to select the whole word or even a part! anything will work just right click http://screencast.com/t/dfp7m4vA7k* More useful Copy/Cut functions: If you right click without selection, the action applies to the Line * Hold Shift key on Verify: To get Verbose compilation* Hold Control key on Upload: To open the Serial Monitor automatically when upload complete (do not lose a bit! from the Serial data or compulsivelly click the serial monitor button). Additionally you can use the new option in File menu too:Or maybe you just forget all of those things? so just click once and Schedule the Monitor to open automatically when upload completes:* Options to get the Hex file path and open the Compilation folder in one click:

12. Better search and replaceBig project? Lots of tabs? No worries! Use the Search all tabs option:

13. Little Serial Monitor improvementsHold the output unchecking "Receiving" when you like and/or set "AutoClear" to automatically clear the monitor output if more than 1 second elapsed since last data (debug anything with ease!), and reset button to manually reset some boards:

14. New WinAVR and RAM usage predictionOfficial arduino uses ancient WinAVR (from 2008 or 2009), this version uses last one 20100110. Also based on http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1224729260/all (thanks to member dcb) IDE now shows ram usage to help begginers even more!:

15. Unninstall & small packageNot an improvement but as a normal windows app, includes an easy way to remove it and the setup including java and everything you need is about 35 mb.

* 1.0.4 20130314: Updated to official 1.0.4 version. New options in preferences to reuse always the current window and open the serial monitor as default. Driver installer updated. Font now is Source Code Pro due licensing of the old font. PATH is not modified anymore (uninstall previous version is recommended). Replace All button does not hang the interface anymore. Tab switching fixed. Control-C without selection now selects the whole line. Control-X at the end of the Sketch does not throws exceptions anymore. AvrDude.exe updated. Minor changes to the template Sketch to use the default Bare minimum sketch.

* 1.0.3 20130203: Key shortcut to upload and open the serial monitor is now Ctrl+M.

* 1.0.3 20130202: Tweaks for Windows 8 in the driver installer. Key shortcut to upload and open the serial monitor is now Ctrl+i to avoid issues with some locates. Returns the maximum items that fit in the current screen for the menu scroller now uses Paul Stoffregen code._______________________Fun fact: First version of this 'idea' of making an installer goes back to the year 2008: http://cl.ly/PDvw

I am using one small mod for redirecting the build process into a single specific directory (shall be inserted into preferences.txt) ie.:

build.path=C:\MyCode\Arduino\build.folder

p.

I don't understand, you say I should include that in the setup? When I need the hex file: I usually just press shift, then copy the HEX path and paste to a programmer (and the same hex file is updated on next compilations)

That ensures the hex files are always on the same place so you do not need to mess with copying build paths into the programmer (if somebody uses an external programmer). Inclusion in the setup - it is up to you..

That ensures the hex files are always on the same place so you do not need to mess with copying build paths into the programmer (if somebody uses an external programmer). Inclusion in the setup - it is up to you..

True but you at least need to select the HEX file once right?, so I think it is more work (because you have to select the correct hex file and browse to the path): http://screencast.com/t/JsuttIxWqw

It is matter of taste Whatever sketch I compile, after compilation the hex is in buld.folder so opening my programmer offers that hex and I just clik on it (within the programmer). So at least once per session you have to click on the hex

PS: maybe you have to place your [MOD] topic into "Using Arduino: Installation and Troubleshooting" forum item..PS1: is the dotnet 4 installation safe? - I do not want to mess too much with my XP setup, so trying to avoid experiments...

Safe? it is official from MS and it is offered as update in Windows Update so I am pretty sure it is very safe

I thought about using a more older framework to avoid users to need .net 4 (version 4 has more than 2 years already btw), but I found that some stuff I was using like the x64 detection to install the drivers with ease was only available in "hacky"/ugly ways in older versions, so at the end I decided to set 4 for cleanliness.

About the forum, maybe this is a wrong place, I was not sure. If some moderator think it has to be somewere else, please move it

mrTee

Fantastic work! I received a free license for the cross-platform installer from the guys of Bitrock, specifically for the purpose of making a multi platform installer for Arduino. If you want to use it, I could forward it to you.